Adjustable base



June 8, 1943. p. G. HOLT 2,321,486 ADJUSTABLE BASE I r 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15. 1942 Fig. 2.

INVENTOR June 8, 1943.

D. G HOLT ADJUSTABLE. BASE Filed Jan. 15. 1942 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR Dar/"y- G. f/o/f Patented June 8, 1943 Barry G. Holt, Salem,

Ohio, assignorto Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, a corporation of Tennessee Application January 15,

1942, Serial N0." 426,917-

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-23)- This invention relates to bases or supporting means and, particularly, to an improved adjustable base or supporting means for motors and the like.

In certain instances it is desirable to adjust a motor or gear box relative to the means to be driven thereby. This is particularly true in rolling mills as used in the steel industry. Oftentimes the rolls of the mill for various reasons become out of alignment with the driving means, such as the motor which is sometimes used on direct connected mills. In such a case, there is usually provided a spindle between the motor and the roll driven thereby. If this spindle is out of alignment with the roll being driven, the spindle slippers and couplings are subjected to undue wear, thereby requiring frequent maintenance and replacement thereof. Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable to change the rolls in the mill and to use either larger or smaller rolls. Usually motor bases heretofore suggested and used were designed for supporting motors of only one size to be used in any particular rolling mill. Accordingly, it will be seen that the motor base would have to be changed so that themotor could be realigned if other size rolls were to be used in the mill, as a smaller or larger roll-than that for which the motor base was designed would result in the motor being out of alignment with the roll, which, of course, would be unsatisfactory.

In the present invention there is provided a means whereby the motor may be adjusted relative to the roll in the mill so as to properly align the same, thereby eliminating the above named disadvantages.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable base or support for motors and the like which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and use, whereby the motor may quickly andconveniently be adjusted relative to the roll or means to be driven.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved adjustable base for motors and'the like which is strong and rugged in its construction, and one which is efiicient and effective in its use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved adjustable base for motors and the like whereby the motor may be adjusted so as to be in proper alignment with the roll or means driven thereby so that the motor is firmly and securely supported after such adjustment.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent during the course ofthe following specification and will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In'these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of the improved adjustable base of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a-sectiontaken on line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical through one of'the screw jacks;

Figure-5 is a horizontal section through one of the screw jacks;

Figure 61s an enlarged side elevational view of the ratchet mechanism for operating my adjustable base;

Figure 7 is an end view of the ratchet mechanism as shown in Figured; and

Figure 8 is a plan of one of the shims adapttable for use with the base of the present invenlon.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved base or means of my invention for supporting motors and the like comprises a frame member consisting of a rectangularshaped base or supporting member be securely attached to the floor or to any other suitable foundation. There is mounted on top of the base 2 a plurality of vertically extending screw jacks 3, namely, four in the present instance. with two of'them positioned at spaced apar points on each side of the base. As shown section gear 6 which meshes with a gear 1 arranged on a shaft 8 which extends outwardly from the screw jack to one side thereof substantially perpendicular to the screw 4. Each of the screws 4 is supported preferably by roller bearings 9 and a thrust bearing Ill. The gears 6 and l and the bearings-9 and II! are arranged preferably in a split housing l2 securely attached to the base 2 preferably by means of bolts I 3. The two halves of the split housing l2 are held together preferably by means of bolts l4.

On the upper end of each of the screws t-of the screw jacks there is arranged on the threaded portion 5 thereof preferably a'square jacking nut [5; which fits into a housing portion l6 arranged of the platform 11. There is arranged through i the I-beam members and plate-like member of the platform opposite each of the screws 4 of each of the screw jacks 3, a circular opening through which the screws 4 are adapted to extend when the platform is in its lower positions.

There is also arranged on ably at each of the corners thereof, and at a point at each side intermediate the length thereof, apair of upwardly extending guide members in the form of web portions 2| which are adapted to cooperate with pads 22 arranged along the side of the platform I! so as to guide the same in its vertical movement and to maintain the motor on the platform in proper vertical alignment at all times.

The shafts 8 of two of the oppositely disposed screw jacks 3 are preferably connected by means of a coupling 23 which may be used for adjusting the screws of the jacks relative to each other. There is arranged on the outer end of one of the shafts 8, to one side of the base 2 and the platform If, a ratchet mechanism for actuating the screw jacks 3. This ratchet mechanism, as shown in Figures 6 and "I of the drawings, consists pref erably of a ratchet wheel 24 securely arranged on the outer end of one of the shafts 8 and a forked handle portion 25 pivotally arranged on the shaft around the ratchet wheel 24 having a pawl 26 pivotally arranged therewith which is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 24 in a well known manner. The handle portion 25 is connected to a similar handle or arm 21 of a similar ratchet mechanism arranged on the shaft of the other set of screw jacks by means of a connecting rod 23.

There is provided a preferably one extends through the platform l1 and the base 2 with the lower ends thereof preferably secured to the floor or embedded in the foundation. There is also arranged on the base 2 between each of the guide members 2!, and around each of the bolts 29, preferably a shim seat 30 upon which slotted shims 3| are adapted to be disposed, as shown in Figure 8.

The adjustable base or support of my invention is operated in the following manner. It will be understood that the motor is securely fixed and arranged on top of the platform I! in any suitable manner. If it is desired to raise or lower the position of the motor, the nuts 32 on the upper ends of the stud bolts 29 are loosened so that the platform is free to be moved. If it is desired to raise the platform l'l, together with the motor carried thereby, the ratchet mechanism is manipulated by means of the handle 25 in such a manner that the platform is caused to raise by means of the nuts [5 moving along the screws 4 of the screw jacks 3 through the action of the shafts 8 and the gears 6 and I, and the connecting rod 28. After plurality of stud bolts 29,

the base 2 preferat each corner of the base, which 1 base member,

bolts 29 upon each of the shim seats 30 of the base 2 between the same and the platform 11. It is the purpose of the shims to support the platform I! after it has been elevated to the proper position. The screws of the screw jacks 3 are backed up slightly and the nuts 32 on the bolts 29 are then tightened so that the platform I! is securely and firmly supported solely by shims 3|. It will then be seen that the platform H, together with the motor carried thereby is firmly supported and the motor is then ready for use. Of course, if it is desired to lower the platform I! instead of raising it, it will be necessary, after the nuts 32 have been loosened, to remove the shims 3| from in under the platform H. The ratchet mechanism is then manipulated so that the screws 3, upon rotation, will lower the platform I! to the desired position.

' As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided an adjustable base for supporting motors and the like whereby the same may be easily and quickly moved to the proper position so as to properly align the shaft of the motor with the means or roll adapted tobe driven thereby, It will be seen that the motor is rigidly supported at all times, thereby eliminating any danger of movement thereof after it has been once adjusted to position.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable base of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped base member, a plurality of vertically arranged screw jacks carried by said base member, a platform member arranged above said base member for vertical movement relative thereto, a nut-like member arranged on the upper threaded end of each of said screw jacks, said platform having openings arranged therein for housing each of said nut-like members, means for actuating all of said screw jacks simultaneously whereby the platform may be raised or lowered, and upwardly extending means carried by said base member for guiding said platform in its vertical movement.

2. An adjustab e base of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped a plurality of vertically arranged screw jacks carried by said base member, a platform member arranged above said base member for vertical movement relative thereto, a nut-like member arranged on the upper threaded end of each of said screw jacks, said platform havthe platform l'l, together with the motor carried thereby, has been elevated to the proper position, slotted shims 3! are then placed around the ing openings arranged therein for housing each of said nut-like members, means for actuating all of said screw jacks simultaneously whereby the platform may be raised or lowered, upwardly extending means carried by said base member for guiding said platform in its vertical movement, a plurality of shims arranged on said base member for rigidly supporting the platform after the same has been moved to its adjusted position, and a stud member extending down through said platform and said shims into said base member for locking the platform in position upon said shims so as to prevent unintentional movement of said platform.

3. An adjustable base of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped base member, a plurality of vertically arranged screw jacks carried by said base member, a platform member arranged above said base member for vertical movement relative thereto, a nutlike member arranged in the upper threaded end of each of said screw jacks, said platform having openings arranged therein for housing each of said nut-like members, means for actuating all of said screw jacks simultaneously whereby the platform may be raised or lowered, upwardly extending portions arranged on said base member at both ends and sides of said platform for guiding the same in its vertical movement, means carried by said platform which cooperates with said upwardly extending portions, means carried by said base member at least adjacent the corners thereof for supporting. a plurality of shims which are adapted to support rigidly the platform after the same has been moved to its adjusted position, and means for securely clamping the platform in position upon the shims so as to 10 prevent unintentional movement of the platform.

DARRY G. HOLT. 

